Koichi Wakata is a veteran astronaut and globally recognized space leader who spearheads Axiom Space’s strategic expansion in the Asia-Pacific region and provides critical insight for the development of Axiom Station, the world’s first commercial space station. Wakata holds the Japanese record for the most space flights (five) and longest cumulative time in space (504 days). He made history as the first Japanese Shuttle Mission Specialist (1996) and the first Japanese ISS Commander (2014). He brings over 33 years of human spaceflight experience, having previously served as JAXA Vice President and ISS Operations Branch Chief of the NASA Astronaut Office.